U.S. patent number 4,353,111 [Application Number 06/211,902] was granted by the patent office on 1982-10-05 for motor vehicle with a rearward swing-up body member.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Gerard Cardiet, Josef Gallitzendorfer, Johann Tomforde.
United States Patent |
4,353,111 |
Gallitzendorfer , et
al. |
October 5, 1982 |
Motor vehicle with a rearward swing-up body member
Abstract
A motor vehicle which includes a rearward body end member which
is adapted to be swung upwardly about a transverse axis of the
vehicle. The body end member consists essentially of a synthetic
resinous material and includes a rear window and an end wall.
Lighting elements such as, for example, taillights, brake lights,
flashers, back-up lights, or the like, are arranged on a side of
the body end member facing an interior of the vehicle. The body end
member is transparent in an area of the lighting elements so as to
enable light to be visible from an exterior of the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Gallitzendorfer; Josef
(Sindelfingen, DE), Cardiet; Gerard (Sindelfingen,
DE), Tomforde; Johann (Sindelfingen, DE) |
Assignee: |
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
(Stuttgart, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
6087438 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/211,902 |
Filed: |
December 1, 1980 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/496;
15/250.3; 296/146.8; 296/56; 296/76; 362/503; 362/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q
1/30 (20130101); B60J 5/101 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60J
5/10 (20060101); B60Q 1/30 (20060101); B60Q
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/76,146,106,56,185,195 ;D12/196,91 ;362/80 ;15/250.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
895109 |
|
Jul 1949 |
|
DE |
|
2440695 |
|
Mar 1976 |
|
DE |
|
2940898 |
|
Apr 1980 |
|
DE |
|
Primary Examiner: Song; Robert R.
Claims
We claim:
1. A motor vehicle comprising a rearward body end member adapted to
be swung upwardly about a transverse axis of the vehicle, the body
end member consisting essentially of a synthetic resin and
including a rear window and an end wall, characterized in that the
lighting elements are arranged on a side of the body end member
facing an interior of the vehicle, and in that the body end member
has a transparent zone in the area of the lighting elements for
defining light-emitting areas for the lighting elements.
2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the
lighting elements include diffuser lense means, and in that the
diffuser lense means are integrally formed with the body end
member.
3. An automotive vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that the lighting elements include lamp housing
means, and in that the lamp housing means are attached and mounted
on an inside of the body end member.
4. An automotive vehicle according to claim 3 with a window wiper
means for wiping the rear window, characterized in that the
light-emitting areas of the lighting elements lie in a wiping range
of the window wiper means so as to enable the window wiper means to
simultaneously sweep over the light-emitting areas and the rear
window.
5. An automotive vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in
that additional light-emitting areas are provided for the lighting
elements, said additional light-emitting areas being oriented in a
downward direction when the body end member is in a closed position
and being visible from a rear of the vehicle when the body end
member has been swung into an upward position.
6. An automotive vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in
that the lighting elements include at least one of taillights,
brake lights, flasher lights, and back-up lights.
7. An automotive vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in
that the lighting elements are integrated into the vehicle, and in
that the lighting elements are covered by the transparent zone of
the body end member when the body end member is closed.
8. An automotive vehicle according to claim 7 with a window wiper
means for wiping the rear window, characterized in that the
light-emitting areas of the lighting elements lie in a wiping range
of the window wiper means so as to enable the window wiper means to
simultaneously sweep over the light-emitting areas and the rear
window.
9. An automotive vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in
that the lighting elements include at least one of taillights,
brake lights, flasher lights, and back-up lights.
Description
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle and, more
particularly, to a motor vehicle which includes a rearward body end
or deck member, consisting of a synthetic resinous material, which
is adapted to be swung up about a transverse vehicle axle and
includes a rear window and an end wall.
A motor vehicle of the aforementioned type which includes a body
end member, i.e., a so-called hatchback, has been proposed in
German Pat. No. 895,109.
The aim underlying the present invention essentially resides in
further developing the body end member of the aforementioned type
in such a manner that lighting elements arranged at a rear of the
vehicle are located so that an especially satisfactory construction
is achieved in both technical and stylistic respects.
In accordance with advantageous features of the present invention,
the lighting elements such as, for example, the taillights, brake
lights, flashers, or the like, on a side facing an interior of the
vehicle are transparent in this zone.
In accordance with the present invention, diffuser lenses of the
lighting elements are integrally constructed with the body end
member in the lamp housings and are attached and mounted from the
inside. Thus, diffuser lenses which must be separately
manufactured, mounted, and sealed are eliminated in accordance with
the present invention leading to an especially economical
production and assembly.
Preferably, in accordance with further features of the present
invention, outer light emission areas of the lighting elements are
within a wiping range of a window wiper which also simultaneously
sweeps over the rear window. This results in an additional
advantage that, by means of a rear window wiper which, in many
cases, is provided anyway, the rearward lighting elements can be
simultaneously kept free of dirt as well without any additional
expenditure.
In accordance with further advantageous features of the present
invention, the provision is made that the lighting elements
additionally exhibit downwardly oriented light emission areas
which, when the body end member is swung upwardly, are visible from
the rear. By virtue of such an arrangement, it is ensured that even
if the vehicle is occasionally driven with the body end member
pivoted upwardly such as, for example, when transporting bulky
loads, full traffic safety is nevertheless preserved.
It is also possible in accordance with the present invention, to
arrange the lighting elements integrally within the vehicle in such
a manner that, with the body end member closed, the lighting
elements are covered by a transparent zone of the body end member.
Additionally, in this case, the above-noted advantages are fully
retained such as the features that the lighting elements are swept
by an already included rear window wiper and the visibility
afforded the body end member when such end member is swung into an
upward position.
The aim underlying the present invention essentially resides in
providing a motor vehicle with a rearward swing-up body end member
which avoids, by simple means, shortcomings and disadvantages
encountered in the prior art.
Another object of the present invention resides in providing a
motor vehicle with a rearward swing-up body end member which
ensures the cleansing of light-emitting areas disposed on the deck
member.
A further object of the present invention resides in providing an
automotive vehicle with a rearward swing-up body end member which
eliminates the need for separate diffuser lenses for lighting
elements.
Another object of the present invention resides in providing an
automotive vehicle with a rearward swing-up body end member which
is simple in construction and therefore relatively inexpensive to
manufacture.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following description
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show,
for the purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance
with the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic lateral view of a dual purpose
vehicle provided with a body end member constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle of Figure; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along
the line III--III in FIG. 2.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are
used throughout the several views to designate like parts and, more
particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to these figures, a dual
purpose vehicle such as a station wagon, includes a rearward body
end member 1 consisting entirely of a synthetic resinous material
and simultaneously constituting a rear window 2 and, in marginal
zones thereof, an end wall 3. The body end member 1 is adapted to
be swung upwardly about an axle 4 arranged in a roof region of the
vehicle, with the axle 4 extending transversely of the vehicle.
Lighting elements 5 are arranged in a lower zone of the body end
member 1.
As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, lighting elements 5 are provided
with diffuser lenses 6 which are integrally formed with the body
end member, that is, are molded into the latter. In a manner not
shown in detail, lamp housings (not shown) are attached and mounted
to the body end member 1 from an interior side of the body end
member 1. A window wiper 7 is provided for sweeping over the rear
window 2 and simultaneously sweeping over the light-emitting areas
of the lighting elements 5 so as to keep dirt off the rearwardly
oriented light-emitting areas. The lighting elements 5 are also
provided with downwardly directed light-emitting areas 8 which,
with an upwardly pivoted body end member 1, are disposed
approximately vertically so as to ensure that the lighting elements
5 are fully recognizable from the rear even with the body end
member 1 in the upright position. The possible light-emitting
directions are indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings by the
arrows.
While we have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance
with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not
limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and
modifications as known to one having ordinary skill in the art, and
we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and
described herein, but intend to cover all such modifications as are
encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *